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Policemen turned EJK whistleblowers seek protection from the Church
“Let us be guardian angels for one another.”
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that the Catholic Church is welcoming with open arms law enforcers who volunteered and expressed the desire to testify on the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and summary executions under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The CBCP said on Monday that some police who turned EJK whistleblowers recently met with Villegas and other officials of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan to seek protection and said that they are willing to submit themselves to the Church, adding that “their consciences are troubling them.”
“Law enforcers have come forward confidentially to us, their spiritual leaders, to seek sanctuary, succor and protection. They have expressed their desire to come out in the open about their participation in extrajudicial killings and summary executions.” Villegas said.
The Church vowed that they will look after the welfare of the cops and their families including accommodation, shelter, and protection if necessary. However, they must be able to present evidence of their allegations. They assured that they will prudently look into the sincerity of motives and veracity of the stories within the bounds of Church and civil laws.
“The hospitality, comfort and acceptance that they seek from the Church will be attended to. Whatever we do to the least of our brethren we do to Christ,” the statement read.
Being an institution that continually expresses opposition against the alleged drug-related killings of the innocents and minors, CBCP said that officers will not be forced to speak and they will not be turned over to the State under the witness-protection program if they prefer to stay with the Church.
“My brothers priests in Lingayen Dagupan are requested, in the name of the Lord, to open their hearts and their rectories, the convents of religious communities and seminaries as well as other secure buildings and to be responsible for the security of the gallant men and women in uniform who may have something important to tell the nation or to testify on before the proper forum,” he added.
“But when they so decide or opt to identify themselves and to testify, every means must be provided for a fair, accurate and unconstrained or unrestrained testimony that may be used in evidence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the Catholic Church to present policemen who expressed willingness to testify against the rampant killings in the country.
“I read the statement of Archbishop Socrates. It is welcomed if you can send somebody here (Senate) to testify. You’ve witnessed how we handle our hearings here,” Lacson said.
He added that it would be best if the Church will be able to present those policemen as they are looking for a long-term solution.
